Headpiece loudspeaker

ABSTRACT

A headpiece loudspeaker is disclosed herein having a headpiece incorporating a loudspeaker oriented so as to propagate acoustical energy from opposite sides of the headpiece. The side lobe propagation emanating from each side of the headpiece forms, in combination, a substantially &#39;&#39;&#39;&#39;figure eight&#39;&#39;&#39;&#39; configuration offering approximately 360* distribution of the acoustical energy emanating from a single loudspeaker. The headpiece is provided with a crown and, in one form, a detachable mount carries the loudspeaker thereon. In another form, the loudspeaker is fixed to the crown of the headpiece and a diverter baffle is disposed in fixed opposing spaced relationship to the vibrating cone of the loudspeaker that is adapted to translate acoustical energy into truly 360* distribution or excursion.

United States Patent [72] Inventor Paul E. Richards Los Angeles, Calif.

[2l] AppLNo. 812,153

[22] Filed Apr. 1,1969

[45] Patented Dec.2l,197l

[73] Assignee Promar lnternational,lnc.

Chatsworth, Calif.

[54] HEADPIECE LOUDSPEAKER FOREIGN PATENTS 445,537 2/1949 ltaly Primary Examiner-William C. Cooper AttorneyRoger A. Marrs ABSTRACT: A headpiece loudspeaker is disclosed herein having a headpiece incorporating a loudspeaker oriented so as to propagate acoustical energy from opposite sides of the headpiece. The side lobe propagation emanating from each side of the headpiece forms, in combination, a substantially figure eight" configuration offering approximately 360 distribution of the acoustical energy emanating from a single loudspeaker. The headpiece is provided with a crown and, in one form, a detachable mount carries the loudspeaker thereon. in another form, the loudspeaker is fixed to the crown of the headpiece and a diverter baffle is disposed in fixed opposing spaced relationship to the vibrating cone of the loudspeaker that is adapted to translate acoustical energy into truly 360 distribution or excursion.

PATENIEU um: um 3.629.522

' SHEET 1 [1F 4 PATENTEUUECZIBYI 33329522 sum 2 [1F 4 nsanmscs LOUDSPEAKER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1 Field of the Invention This invention relates to electroacoustical transducers and, more particularly, to a novel headpiece loudspeaker capable of being worn by a musician in a group such as a marching band or choral group and which is responsive to amplified electrical signals produced by a suitable musical instrument so as to distribute acoustical energy omnidirectionally.

2. Description of the Prior Art In the past, groups of musicians formed into bands, orchestras, choral groups or the like have employed nonamplified musical instruments. Although the use of such instruments produces an adequate combined distribution of sounds, problems and difficulties have been encountered which stem from the fact that remotely located audiences do not hear certain instruments in the group as well as other instruments. This problem is particularly acute in marching bands such as those engaged in parading down a street or on a playing field. Generally, the musicians in the first row of the band cannot hear musical parts or selections played by musicians in the second or third row. Similarly, musicians in each row thereafter have difficulty in hearing musical parts played by musicians in front or behind. Also, spectators or audiences located on opposite sides of the band may experience musical blanking or voids during a performance.

A partial cause of musical selection blanking resides in a natural condition of imbalance between various classes of instruments in the group. Some instruments such as those classed as brass, are considered strong in terms of loudness and extremely directional in sound propagation. Other instruments, such as Woodwinds, are relatively weak and lack direction in sound radiating ability. This imbalance results in a band in which all voices thereof are comparatively unequal in both loudness and directional propagation.

Therefore, a long standing need has been present for remedying the adverse conditions experienced when listening to a nonamplified band or orchestra. Although amplifying equipment has been employed in small groups of musicians such as combos" for example, most amplifying equipment for this purpose is extremely heavy, bulky, requires alternating current and does not lend itself to be carried on the person of the musician.

Aside from the fact that conventional amplifying equipment is not suited for mobile use, the loudspeaker system used with conventional amplifying equipment usually is either contained in the case for the amplifier or is placed in a remote location not intended to be moved. Again, the loudspeaker is not adapted to be carried on the body of the musician. Occasionally, loudspeakers have been placed in hats or headpieces for safety or amusement purposes such as disclosed in US. Letters Pat. Nos. 3,150,46l and 3,258,534. Although the firstmentioned patent utilizes a conventional loudspeaker in a helmet, it is noted that the vibrating cone of the loudspeaker is facing the top of the wearer's head and is not intended to generate or disperse acoustical energy for any particular propagation pattern. Also, the headpiece loudspeaker disclosed in the latter patent employs at least three separate loudspeakers which produce a distorted and combined output since, at some frequencies, the output from one speaker will tend to attenuate or distort the output from another speaker.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, the difi'iculties and problems encountered with conventional nonamplified bands and orchestras are obviated by the headpiece loudspeaker of the present invention which provides a headpiece rim adapted to fit on the head of a musician and which includes a crown that may take the form of a fiat cap or a cylindrical decorative member. In one form of the invention, a loudspeaker is secured to a supporting mount so that the vibrating cone of the loudspeaker will distribute acoustical energy from opposite sides of the speaker so as to provide a pair of rounded side lobes forming a propagation pattern of approximately 360. The movement of the vibrating cone is normal to the central vertical axis of the device and movement of the cone is in the same direction as energy wave propagation or distribution. The supporting mount includes fastening means for detachably connecting the loudspeaker to a conventional flat hat or cap while stabilizing means are provided for supporting the additional weight and to assist the wearer in balancing the headpiece loudspeaker.

In another form of the invention, the loudspeaker is secured to the structure of the hat so that acoustical energy is directed outwardly from the device. An acoustical energy diverting baffle or panel is secured to the headpiece having a shaped surface arranged in fixed opposing and spaced apart relationship with respect to the vibrating cone. Preferably, the shaped surface of the baffle is coned in which the apex is facing the loudspeaker.

By arranging the loudspeaker so as to radiate acoustical energy outwardly from the sides of the musician or by employing the diverting means or baffle plate, improved acoustical wave propagation characteristics are attained so that substantially a 360 energy spread or excursion of sound is experienced.

A feature of the invention also resides in the fact that the instruments carried by the musicians in the band are fully amplified by employing an amplifier pack or apparatus which contains a conventional amplifier circuit, battery voltage source and suitable controls. The amplifier apparatus may be employed in combination with the headpiece loudspeaker so that a fully amplified sound system is provided for amplifying electrical signals produced by a suitable transducer forming a part of the musical instrument.

Therefore, it is among the primary objects of the present invention to provide a novel headpiece loudspeaker for use on occasions where it is necessary or desirable for musicians to communicate with audiences under conditions which make hearing extremely difficult, and where it is necessary for the musician to have his hands free.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved, simple, compact and protected loudspeaker headpiece having superior directional characteristics than conventional loudspeakers.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a novel amplification system and apparatus adapted to be carried by a musician wherein the musical sounds generated by the musicians instrument can be readily amplified and distributed to remote audiences.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a novel amplifier and loudspeaker system to be carried on the body of a musician and which is capable of separating the amplification unit from the loudspeaker unit such that the loudspeaker projects approximately 360 of sound in a controlled directional manner.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The features of the present invention which are believed to be novel are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The present invention, both as to its organization and manner of operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of the novel headpiece loudspeaker and portable amplifying unit of the present invention illustrating the loudspeaker as an attachment to be carried on a conventional visor cap or the like;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of a headpiece loudspeaker as taken in the direction of arrows 2-2 of FIG. I;

FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of the headpiece loudspeaker of FIG. 1 as taken in the direction of arrows 33 thereof;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged side elevational view of the headpiece loudspeaker having a portion thereof broken away to expose the loudspeaker;

FIG. 5 is a transverse cross-sectional view of the headpiece loudspeaker as taken in the direction of arrows 5-5 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary longitudinal cross-sectional view of the headpiece loudspeaker taken in the direction of arrows 6-6 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary view, partly in section, of the loudspeakers support;

FIG. 8 is an elevational view taken in the direction of arrows 8-8 of FIG. 7 showing the loudspeaker support attachment means;

FIG. 9 is a diagrammatic view of the directional characteristics of the acoustical energy radiating pattern displayed by the headpiece loudspeaker;

FIG. 10 is a side elevational view, partly broken away, of another embodiment of the present invention illustrating the loudspeaker incorporated into the construction of a hat;

FIG. 11 is a front elevational view of the loudspeaker hat shown in FIG. 10;

FIGS. 12 and 13 are views similar to the views of FIGS. 10 and Il illustrating still another embodiment of the present invention employing an acoustical energy diverting partition or baffle carried in the crown in a hat;

FIG. 14 is a transverse cross-sectional view of the hat shown in FIG. 12 as taken in the direction of arrows 1414 thereof;

FIG. 15 is a side elevational view, partly in section, of another form of the loudspeaker hat incorporating an acoustical energy deflector or diverter panel covered by the inventive concept;

FIG. 16 is a cross-sectional view of the loudspeaker hat illustrated in FIG. 15;

FIG. 17 is a cross-sectional view of the plume taken along the lines 17-17 ofFIG. 16; and

FIG. 18 is a transverse cross-sectional view of the loudspeaker shown in FIG. 15 as taken along lines 18 18 thereof.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to FIGS. 1-4 inclusive, the novel headpiece loudspeaker of the present invention is illustrated in one of its forms in the direction of arrow 10 and is shown detachably mounted on a conventional visor cap 11. The cap is of a usual variety having a visor 12 forwardly projecting from an annular ridged headband or rim 13 that supports a soft cloth crown portion 14. A flat cloth top portion 15 is secured to the peripheral edge of the crown portion which completes the construction of the cap. In most instances the cap construction also includes an annular resiliently expandable ring or member 16 that is installed inside the crown adjacent the interconnection of the top portion with the crown portion. The ring is biased outwardly in diameter to tension the crown portion and to pull the top portion taut.

The headpiece further includes an elongated planar loudspeaker 17 having substantially flat opposite side surfaces. The rectangular loudspeaker is disposed upright so that acoustical energy radiates outwardly from the opposite sides of a lightweight acoustical panel 18 and is normal to the cen' tral longitudinal vertical plane of the loudspeaker as shown in FIG. 3. The loudspeaker is a wafer-type, wide range electrodynamic speaker. Information and descriptive literature concerning a suitable speaker of this type may be obtained from ERA Acoustics Corporation, 67 Sand Park Road, Cedargrove, NJ. and is referred to in literature of this company by the name Polyplanar P-S.

The loudspeaker 17 is mounted in a central opening of a horn member 20 having flared portions 21 and 22 arranged on opposite sides of the loudspeaker 17 so as to efficiently propagate acoustical energy radiating from the vibrating panel 18. A covering or perforated panel 23 is provided in front of each side of the loudspeaker 17 in spaced apart relationship and is attached about its peripheral edge to the inside curved surface of each of the flared portions 21 and 22. Preferably, the sight panel 23 may take the form of a closely woven cloth, plastic screen or other apertured construction so as to permit passage of acoustical waves therethrough. Each flared portion follows a substantially rectangular configuration in side elevation with its lower or bottom end being of shorter dimension than the length of the top end.

The horn member 20 is carried on a mounting structure 24 that takes the form of a pair of elongated bars 25 and 26 that are arranged to cross over about their midsections at a right angle. The opposite ends of bar 26 include downwardly depending feet or stop elements 27 and 28 adapted to engage portions of the top and crown of the cap in the front and rear thereof. Similarly, the opposite ends of bar 25 include downwardly depending integral feet or stop elements 30 and 31 adapted to engage the opposite edges of the top and crown portions of the cap. The inside surface of each of the respective feet associated with bars 25 and 26 serve as stops or abutment surfaces against which the expandable member 16 may press to forcibly hold the supporting structure 24 including the loudspeaker and horn member onto the cap 11.

To stabilize the supporting structure and loudspeaker on the cap, feet 30 and 31 are provided with apertures or holes adapted to receive the looped ends of a strap 31 adapted to extend under the chin of the wearer. By means of the strap 32, the loudspeaker and supporting structure may be more readily balanced on the head of the wearer and various body movements will not topple or unseat either the loudspeaker or the cap from the installed position.

Referring now to FIG. 5, it can be seen thatthe flared portions 21 and 22 of the horn 20 provide arcuate peripheral surfaces indicated by numerals 33 and 34 which are designed to permit improved propagation of acoustical energy radiating from the opposite sides of loudspeaker l7. Disposed midway between the extreme end of each horn portion and the loudspeaker, there are provided continuous ridges 35 and 36 which serve as an attachment surface for the screen or panel 23. The edge marginal regions of the panel may be secured to the respective ridges by any suitable means, such as adhesive or bonding materials. The midsection of the horn structure 20 includes a pair of spaced apart internal flanges 37 and 38 which define a shallow annular chamber 40 for receiving and holding the loudspeaker 17. A portion of the chamber 40 extends into a base 41 carried on the midsection of bar 25 midway between its opposite ends and which forms with the midsection of bar 26 at the crossover juncture of the bars 25 and 26. The horn structure further includes a support member having hollow side portions 42 and 43 which stabilize the horn portions 21 and 22 on the bar 25. The support portions 42 and 43 are configured to match or correspond with the configuration of the base 41 so that a form fit is attained. An aperture 44 is formed through the base 41 in order to accommodate the passage of electrical wires 45 and 46 which are electrically connected to the voice coil of the loudspeaker 17 on one end and at their opposite ends to the amplifier carried as a pack 47 on the body of the musician. The amplifier included in pack 47 is of conventional circuit design so as to operate from a DC power supply in order that the pack may be not only reduced in size but highly mobile as well. The pack includes a suitable battery supply for the amplifier circuit.

As can be seen in FIG. 7, the edge marginal perimeter of the cap top 15 merging with the crown 14 is forced against the stops or foot elements 30 and 31. As shown in broken lines, the edge of the cap is retracted so as to be slipped between the elements 30 and 31 and as shown in solid lines, the ring 16 is released so that the bias of expandable member 16 forcibly butts against the elements. As indicated in FIG. 8, in broken lines, the ring 16 is retracted to permit the edge of the cap to be inserted against the element 28 and to be captured by an inwardly projecting flange 47 as shown in solid lines. Element 27 is provided with similar flange to the flange 47 shown in FIG. 8. By this means, the support attachment for the loudspeaker and horn structure is releasably secured to the cap.

Referring now to FIG. 6, a portion of the acoustical loudspeaker is illustrated in which the acoustical panel 18 serves as a vibrating piston when excitation signals are provided to the voice coil of the panel. The planar loudspeaker 17 functions basically in a similar manner as that of a cone loudspeaker system. There is a magnetic structure which produces an electromagnetic field within a closed space gap. The voice coil is situated in the gap and electrical signals applied to the coil produce motor action with resulting acoustical output from the panel. In place of the conventional paper cone, however, is the flat plastic panel 18 which exhibits only a fraction of the depth of an equivalent cone structure. The panel 18 is made rigid by the choice of plastic materials in conjunction with a special surface skin treatment. The material used is expanded polystyrene in a compacted bead structure. Since the beads are composed largely of air, the mass is extremely low. To obtain the desired acoustic properties, the panel incorporates a combination of circular grooves 51 and 52in conjunction with special acoustic fill material. This combination provides a proper balance of compliances and dampening for wide response characteristics. With a flat rectangular panel, a larger piston area is also available and hence, the length and width dimensions can be fabricated smaller than a cone speaker, or superior low frequencies can be reproduced for the same equivalent area.

In view of the superior rigidity of the acoustic panel, conventional spiders or supporting structures are not required to maintain or center the voice coil in the magnetic gap. The acoustical panel is supported directly by a frame 53 secured within chamber 40 between the ridges 37 and 38, and the frame may be fabricated of polystyrene plastic which provides an identical coefficient of expansion to the acoustic panel material. This results in a stable physical structure substantially independent of wide changes in temperature or ambient conditions. Due to the physical characteristics of the acoustic panel, the supporting frame may also be made shallow without detracting from the required rigidity necessary to prevent flexing at low frequencies.

In view of the superior mechanical stability, more accurate coil centering is feasible which permits a shorter magnetic gap. This, together with the smaller acoustic panel mass, allows the use of a lower magnet weight for the same power output. For a given design, it is possible to reproduce the same sound power output with a smaller amount of piston displacement and the magnet thickness can be made thinner without introducing appreciable distortion.

Referring now to FIG. 9, a typical radiation pattern is illustrated showing the directional characteristics of the planar, bidirectional loudspeaker 17. It is noted that a pair of side lobes 54 and 55 are created by excursions of acoustical energy radiating from opposite sides of the loudspeaker 17. In plan view, the acoustic energy propagation pattern approximates the configuration of a figure eight shape. The propagation pattern shown is in reference to a frequency response of approximately 1,000 cycles per second. With an increase in frequency response, the pattern changes slightly so as to become omnidirectional. However, in any event, forward and rear projection of acoustical energy is sufficient to permit persons in front and behind the loudspeaker to hear the acoustical energy as well as on opposite sides of the loudspeaker.

It is to be particularly noted that the loudspeaker does not employ baffling so that the speaker is operated unbaffled to provide a bidirectional radiating characteristic. In conventional loudspeaker systems, baffling is employed in general as a means to prevent the rear wave of sound from interferring or cancelling the front wave. Such a requirement is not necessary in the present invention and advantage is taken of the rear wave as well as the front wave travelling in opposite paths to provide bidirectional radiation.

Referring now to FIGS. and 11, another form of a bidirectional radiating headpiece loudspeaker is illustrated and shown in the general direction of arrow 55 which includes a specially designed and constructed hat comprising a headband 56 adapted to fit about the head of the wearer and which may include a visor 57 protruding forwardly thereof. A domelike crown portion 58 is provided which may be composed of any suitable sound-passing material, such as plastic screen, grid cloth or the like. The crown portion 58 is secured to the top edge of rim or band 56 by means of a partition 59 which is inserted into the central opening of the band 56 and wherein the peripheral edge of the partition 59 presses the edge marginal region of the crown material against the band 56. Preferably, the inside diameter of the band tapers from the top edge to its bottom edge so that a forcible clamping action or a proper press fit is achieved by the partition to restrain and maintain the crown 58 in position on the headband 56.

A planar loudspeaker 60 having an acoustical panel 61 is employed in the embodiment of FIG. 11 which is identical to the planar loudspeaker 17 shown in connection with the embodiment of FIGS. l-6. The loudspeaker 60 includes an acoustic panel 61 and the loudspeaker is arranged in an upright position so as to be supported along its bottom edge by a support 62 carried on partition 59. In its upright position, acoustic energy is radiated in a bidirectional manner according to the radiation characteristics shown in FIG. 9.

Referring now to FIGS. l2, l3 and 14, another embodiment of the present invention is shown which employs a planar loudspeaker 65 which is a loudspeaker identical to the speakers 17 and 60 shown in earlier embodiments. The loudspeaker 65 is oriented along a horizontal plane and is mounted on a partition or support member 66 having a central opening so as to accommodate the acoustical panel of the loudspeaker. The outer edge of the member 66 is seated against the edge marginal region of a suitable fabric or screen material 67 which is pressed against the inside tapered wall surface of a hat band or rim 68. The hat construction is completed by providing sound and ventilation apertures 70 in the headband 68 and providing a top piece 71 across the upper edges of the screens 67 opposite to its edge clamped to the rim 68.

A feature of the inventive embodiment of the present invention resides in providing a diverter panel or baffle plate 72 on the inside of the hat immediately supported adjacent the top piece 71. The diverter panel includes a shaped projection 73 which extends into a sound or tone chamber 74 defined by the circular sidewall of the screen 67, diverter plate 72 and the loudspeaker 65. The diverter plate 72 is oriented so that the shaped projection 73 faces the acoustic panel of the loudspeaker 65 in spaced apart opposing relationship and, in one form of the invention, the shaped projection 73 is configured so as to represent a cone having a curved and sloping exterior surface 75 terminating in a flat land or terminus 76.

Acoustical energy produced by the acoustic panel of the loudspeaker is directed against the shaped projection and surface of the diverter plate 72 which causes the energy to propagate in a 360 radiation pattern. Acoustic energy from the loudspeaker is diverted at right angles by the shaped projection 73 so as to radiate outwardly through the annular screen 67. Baffling may take the form of any suitable means such as a member located outside of the chamber 74 in spaced apart relationship with the opposite side of loudspeaker 65 so as to absorb the rear acoustic energy wave or which may shield the rear wave from the chamber 74. Also, baffling may be achieved by processing the rear wave in such a manner so that it becomes in phase with the front wave. The top surface of the wearers head may function as such a baffling means under some circumstances.

Referring now to FIGS. 15-18 inclusive, still another embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in the general direction of arrow which includes a basic hat construction comprising an annular crown or headband 81 to which is attached a rigid top 82 and a visor 83. Upwardly projecting at a slight oblique angle from the exterior surface of top piece 82, there is provided a decorative plume member 84. The plume is constructed of a cylindrical screen or cloth close-mesh fabric adapted to permit the passage of acoustical energy therethrough. The exterior surface of the screen or fabric of member 84 may include decorative elements such as feathers 85 or other similar ornamental elements.

The top piece 82 is provided with an opening adapted to be encircled by an attachment ring 86 of a conventional vibrating cone speaker 87. The vibrating cone of the speaker is directed into the top piece opening and faces the interior of the plume member 84 inasmuch as a selected end of the cylindrical screen plume member is secured to the top piece 82 about the opening facing the loudspeaker 87. In one form, the cylindrical plume member may include an annular flange 88 seated between the undersurface of the top piece 82 adjacent the opening and the frame ring 86 of the loudspeaker 87. Suitable fasteners such as a threaded screw arrangement 88 may be employed to fasten the plume member and loudspeaker to the top piece 82. The interior of the cylindrical plume member 84 forms a sound chamber 90 into which a diverter plate or baffle panel 91 projects. The diverter panel of the present embodiment is conical in shape and includes a pointed apex 92 which faces the vibrating cone of the loudspeaker 87 in spaced apart opposing relationship. The opposite end of the diverter plate may be suitably attached to the end of plume member 84 opposite to its end connected to top piece 82. Such a connection is more clearly shown in FIG. 16 which illustrates the diverter plate 91 as being hollow and as being coaxial with the cylindrical member 84 as well as the vibrating cone of loudspeaker 87.

As illustrated in FIGS. and 16, acoustical energy is radiated in a vertical direction from a vibrating cone of loudspeaker 87 where the energy encounters projection 91 extending into the sound chamber 90. On impingement, the energy is redirected substantially at an angular vector to the central vertical axis of the cylindrical plume member 84 so that the redirected acoustical energy radiates outwardly in a transverse direction in an approximately 360 propagation pattern. Such a propagation pattern is illustrated in FIG. 18 which shows the approximate 360 radiation after redirection by the diverter plate 91. The radiating energy excursion of the embodiment 80 is similar to that of the embodiment shown in FIG. 12 with the exception that the transverse radiation in embodiment 80 is angularly disposed with respect to the vertical axis whereas the radiation in connection with the embodiment of FIG. [2 is directly perpendicular to the central vertical axis.

In view of the foregoing, it can be seen that a novel speaker system is shown and described which may be incorporated into a variety of headpiece installations. The loudspeaker may be readily detachably connected to a conventional cap or hat while in other embodiments the loudspeaker may be made a permanent part of the design and construction of the hat. In all instances, the acoustical energy radiation pattern is such that musical voids or blanking is obviated and all voices of a group or band are maintained substantially equal in loudness and directional characteristics.

While particular embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made without departing from this invention in its broader aspects, and, therefore, the aim in the appended claims is to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of this invention.

I claim:

l. A loudspeaker headpiece comprising:

a hat having a headband and a crown portion;

a loudspeaker carried on said crown portion;

said loudspeaker being disposed on said hat so as to radiate acoustical energy bidirectionally from opposite sides of said crown portion;

said loudspeaker including an elongated rectangular acoustical panel and which is fixed in an upright position on its edge.

2. The invention as defined in claim 1 including a support structure for detachably mounting said loudspeaker on said crown portion so that said panel extends upwardly from the exterior of said hat.

3. The invention as defined in claim 2 including stabilizing means coupled between the opposite sides of said support structure and adapted to releasably engage with the head of the wearer.

4. The invention as defined in claim 3 wherein said stabilizing means comprises a strap pivotally secured on its opposite ends to the sides of said support structure and adapted to engage under the chin of the wearer.

5. A loudspeaker headpiece comprising:

a hat having a headband and a crown portion;

a loudspeaker carried on said crown portion;

said loudspeaker being disposed on said hat so as to radiate acoustical energy bidirectionaily from opposite sides of said crown portion; and

a support structure detachably securing said loudspeaker externally on said crown portion and wherein said support structure includes a horn member having shaped openings on opposite sides of said loudspeaker for conducting acoustical energy radiation.

6. The invention as defined in claim 5 including an electrical signal amplifying means operably connected to said loudspeaker; and

said amplifying means being portable and adapted to be carried directly on the body of the wearer.

7. The invention as defined in claim 5 wherein said support structure includes a pair of bars crossed over at their midsections and wherein said horn member is secured substantially along the length of a selected one of said bars.

8. The invention as defined in claim 7 including attachment means carried on the free ends of each of said bars for detachably securing said support structure on said hat.

9. A loudspeaker headpiece comprising:

a hat having a headband and a crown portion;

a loudspeaker carried on said crown portion;

said loudspeaker being disposed on said hat so as to radiate acoustical energy bidirectionally from opposite sides of said crown portion;

a rigid partition extending across said crown portion and terminating at an edge thereof in securement with said headband; and

rigid mounting means securing said loudspeaker on said partition whereby acoustical energy radiates from opposite sides of said loudspeaker in a propagation pattern. 

1. A loudspeaker headpiece comprising: a hat having a headband and a crown portion; a loudspeaker carried on said crown portion; said loudspeaker being disposed on said hat so as to radiate acoustical energy bidirectionally from opposite sides of said crown portion; said loudspeaker including an elongated rectangular acoustical panel and which is fixed in an upright position on its edge.
 2. The invention as defined in claim 1 including a support structure for detachably mounting said loudspeaker on said crown portion so that said panel extends upwardly from the exterior of said hat.
 3. The invention as defined in claim 2 including stabilizing means coupled between the opposite sides of said support structure and adapted to releasably engage with the head of the wearer.
 4. The invention as defined in claim 3 wherein said stabilizing means comprises a strap pivotally secured on its opposite ends to the sides of said support structure and adapted to engage under the chin of the wearer.
 5. A loudspeaker headpiece comprising: a hat having a headband and a crown portion; a loudspeaker carried on said crown portion; said loudspeaker being disposed on said hat so as to radiate acoustical energy bidirectionally from opposite sides of said crown portion; and a support structure detachably securing said loudspeaker externally on said crown portion and wherein said support structure includes a horn member having shaped openings on opposite sides of said loudspeaker for conducting acoustical energy radiation.
 6. The invention as defined in claim 5 including an electrical signal amplifying means operably connected to said loudspeaker; and said amplifying means being portable and adapted to be carried directly on the body of the wearer.
 7. The invention as defined in claim 5 wherein said support structure includes a pair of bars crossed over at their midsections and wherein said horn member is secured substantially along the length of a selected one of said bars.
 8. The invention as defined in claim 7 including attachment means carried on the free ends of each of said bars for detachably securing said support structure on said hat.
 9. A loudspeaker headpiece comprising: a hat having a headbAnd and a crown portion; a loudspeaker carried on said crown portion; said loudspeaker being disposed on said hat so as to radiate acoustical energy bidirectionally from opposite sides of said crown portion; a rigid partition extending across said crown portion and terminating at an edge thereof in securement with said headband; and rigid mounting means securing said loudspeaker on said partition whereby acoustical energy radiates from opposite sides of said loudspeaker in a propagation pattern. 